Roller-skate



g (No Model.)

H. W. LIBBEY.

I ROLLER SKATE.

No. 346,664. Patented Aug. 3, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

HOSEA W. LIBBEY, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTHTO MRS. EMILY \VARD,OF LINDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346.664, dated August3, 1886.

A pplication filed April 27, 1885. Serial No. 163,522.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HosEA IV. LIBBEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a roller-skate that shallpossess the advantage 1c in its action of an ice-skate, whereby agreater degree of speed can be attained with less exertion than can beeffected by the roller-skates in ordinary use and with lessfloor-friction.

The invention consists in mounting the foot I 5 plate or stock uponwheels which are journaled upon axles formed .or bent in such a mannerthat two of said wheels will stand at an angle with each other andconverging together at thelower portion of their perimeters.

Two sets of wheels are used-one set being under the toe portion and theother at the heel. On the under side of the bent axle is a bar thatextends downward and carries atits lower end a beveled friction wheel orroller, against which the lower portion of the wheels bear, so as tomaintain them in their proper relative position. Friction-rolls are alsoattached to ribs under the foot-plate, so as to maintain the upperportions of the wheels in position.

0 The invention further consists in certain details of construction,hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa roller skate 5 embodying my invent-ion. Fig. 2 is a top or plan viewofthe same. Fig. 3 is arear end view, and Fig. 4 a front end view. Figs.5 and 6 are enlarged views in detail of portions of the skate.

.to A is the footplate, made of1netal,or it may be of wood. Underneaththe toe and heel portions of the foot-plate are secured,by means ofscrews or rivets S S, ribs 1), extending nearly across the plate.Extending downward from the rib b is a projection, I, on each side ofwhich is an arm, H H, inclining downward and outward and constitutingeach an axle. On the outer ends of the axles H H are journaled thewheels G G, so arranged that the lower portions of their perimeters arenearly in contact, while is a rubber bearin B for the heel.

(No model.)

the upper portions of the same spread outward, as shown in Figs. 3 and4. On the un 'der side of the projection I is a bar, J, which extendsdownward and carries on its lower end a beveled friction-roller, K,against which 5 5 the lower portions of the wheels G- G bear, so

as to maintain them in proper relative position. On the ends of the ribb are also placed friction-rolls M M, against which the upper portionsof the wheels bear. The ends of the axles H H are formed as shown inFig. 6.

his a reduced portion of the bearing, into the end of which is fitted ascrew, 0, forming a part of the bearing upon which the hub of the wheelis journaled, and serving to hold the wheel upon the axle.

P P are washers placed on the axle at each side of the hub.

On the upperside of the heel portion of the foot-plate is a heel-holder,B, which consists of an elastic piece of metal having pivoted at eachend a clamp, N, in the face of which is fitted a dovetailed piece ofrubber, e, as shown in Fig. 5. This pivoted clamp and rubber adaptsitself to the sides of the boot or shoe heel of the skater and serves tohold the skate .on. O11 the inside of the rearof the holder B Similarclamps, N N, are also arranged at the toe portion of the foot-plate.These clamps N, hav- 8o ing a facing of rubber, e, as shown in Fig. 5,are pivoted to uprights E E, which are connected to bars E, that passunder the foot-plate and are fitted to slide in guides a at each side.The inner ends of the sliding bars E E are attached to curved springssecured to the under side of the foot-plate, so that when the clamps Nare drawn outward for the insertion of the boot or shoe of the skater,they will spring inward and clamp the boot or shoe sole, and 0 thus holdit upon the skate.

At the front part of the skate is secured a frame, R, which carries twosmall rollers, Q Q, arranged one above the other. Instead of therollers, a ball placed within a socket may be used in the place of oneor both rollers. These rollers are for the purpose of being used byprofessional skaters skilled in the art;

Extending from the foot-plate and passing down by the axle H H aretubest' 2', leading to the bearings of the wheels. In these tubes is tobe placed some absorbent material saturated with oil for the purpose oflubricating the journals.

By arranging the wheels at an angle, as above described, they can be oflarger diameter, and consequently of a much longer circumference withoutraising the height of the foot-plate, than if the Wheels stood upright.At the same time the friction on the floor or ground is very much lessthan that of the wide rollers used in the ordinary roller-skate.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a roller-skate, the combination,with the foot-plate A, of the downwardly-projecting piece I, theinclined axles H H, forming part of said projection, and the wheels G G,arranged at an angle and nearly in contact with each other at theirlower ends, and both bearing upon the ground or floor, all as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination, with the wheels G G and inclined axles H H, of thebeveled roller K, the friction-rollers M M, the rib b, and extension I,as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with the foot-plate A, the elastic heel-holder B andthe pivoted clamp N, having a facing of rubber, e, as set forth.

4. In a roller-skate, the tubes ii, for containing a lubricatingsubstance and extending from the foot-plate A, in combination with theaxles H H and the bearings of the wheels, as and for the purpose setforth.

5. The axles H H, having the diminished bearing portions h h, incombination with the screw 0, forming a part of the bearing, the washersP P, and the wheels G G, as specified.

6. In combination with the foot-plate A, the pivoted toe-clamps N, facedwith rubber e, the uprights E, the sliding bars E E, and springs F F, asand for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOSEA W. LIBBEY.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS, E. PLANTA.

